Tool joint



April 27, 1948. J HANES 2,440,441

TOOL JOINT Filed Aug. '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \Ill,

MM! 9 H- a -lj'i'U I April 1948' J. w. E. HANEs 2,440,441

TOOLJ'OINT File d Aug. 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Apr. 27,;194 8 TOOL JOINT James Wt E. Hanes, Venture, Calit,ass'ignor to Ventura Tool Company, Ventura, Calif., a cornotation ofCaliforni Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,783

This invention relates to tool joints for well pipe, and is moreparticularly related to the construction of a composite or built-up tooljoint provided with a wearing sleeve or surface.

Tool joints are the members which are employed for coupling sections ofdrill pipe. These Joints as a matter of general practice have a greateroutside diameter than the outside diameter of the drill pipe. Thisgreater diameter of the joints results in 'more rapid wear'than is foundin or on the surface .ofthe drill'pipe.

In drilling operations it has been the general practice in the past whensuch tool joints wear to remove the joint of 'pipeon which the tooljoints are fastened from the drill string and take the same to a machineshop having facilities for resurfacing or rebuilding the worn surface.This operation requires the replacement in the drill string of a jointof pipe having new or reconditioned tool joints. The operation of layingdown the joint of pipe having worn joints and picking up a joint of pipehaving new or reconditioned tool jointsis'both costly and timeconsuming.In an eilort to overcome'this difliculty more recently-methods have beendevised in which the worn tool joint'is machined to a small outsidediameter and a new-wearing sleeve is shrunk on. This method is lesscostly than the replacement method but still requires machining of theworn tool joint in a shop having facilities for such work and; alsonecessitates hauling the joint of pipe having worn tool joints to andfrom the shop having facilities requisite for this type of sleevereplacement. I

It is therefore theprimary object of my invention to provide a tooljoint which isprovided with a replaceable wearingsleeveas new equipmentand which too] joint and sleeve are so operatively united in forming thejoint assto enable the replacement of thesleeve at the place of use whenthe sleeve becomes worn without requiring additional machine work. i f

Another object of my invention is to provide a tool joint whichincludes; abody and a replaceable wear sleeve wherethesleeve and thebody of the joint are connected together at a pair of connectingelements; one comprising complementary tapered sections or equivalentmeans for limiting relative longitudinal movemeht, the other of whichlock means includes a rotation lock to prevent relative rotation of thesleeve and tool joint body; i

Other objects and advantages of thisinvention it is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description as illustrated by the 7Claims. (Cl. 308-4) several modifications in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: t Figure 1 is an elevation in vertical midsection of atool joint embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional end view taken sub stantlally on the line 2-4 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line 3-3 oi.Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detached assembly view of the tool joint illustrated inFigure l.

Figure5 is an elevation in vertical midsection of a modified form oftool invention.

Figure 6 is a detachedelevation in vertical midsection of the wearsleeve of the tool joint of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line l1of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an elevation in vertical midsection of a further modifiedform of tool joint embodying my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have illustratedmodifications thereof which require a minimum of fabrication in order toreplace the wear sleeve in the drilling rig.

In the modifications of my invention as illustrated I have chosen toillustrate my invention as adapted to the box section of the tool joint.However, this is only for convenience and my invention is equallysusceptible of use in connectlon with the pin section. V i

I In the modification of Figures 1 to 4, the tool joint body I is ofsuch external diameter that when the sleeve 2 is'applied thereto, thediameter of the resultant joint member is the same as a one-piecejoint'member. In the fabrication of this toolrjoint the body member lisformed at its opposite ends with the threads 3 by means of which it iscoupled with the drill pipe 4 and with quick acting threads 5 at itsopposed end by means of which it is coupled to the pin section of thetool joint. The sleeve 2 in this modification of my invention isillustrated as composed of two sections Band I which are coupledtogether by means of a-coupling ring a which is inset into acylindricalrecess 9 formed in the body I. The upper sleeve section I isformed near its upper end with a tapered seat 10 which is complementaryto the tapered seat ll formed at the upper end of the body-l; The lowersleeve member 6 is formed at its lower end with a tapered seat l2. Thelo end ofthe body I is formed tapered as indi at 13.1 Between thesetapered surfaces the inserted a segmental keeper ring ll which h jointembodying my sections 6 and 1 onto the connecting member 8 is continueduntil the said sleeve sections are seated, that is, the upper sleevesection I is seated at its tapered surface I!) upon the tapered seat .llof" the body I and until the lowersleeve section-l3- is seated upon thesectional keeper ring H! which in turn is seated upon thetapered-surface l-3aof the body I. V

This cutting of the threads into the plastic or fiber rings It looks theassembly against accidentalunthreadingduringuse; q

As illustrated in Figure 4, the assembly is made up by positioning thesplit connectingring Sin its undercut recess 9. and positioning" thekeeper ring I 4 on the tapered surface l3 -andsliding the-sleevesection6? over the assembly until it is threaded onto the coupling member 8. .1l

By the us:f' the coupling. member 8 the load which may. be borneby: thelower elevator shoulder l'lformed at the end-of the sleeve 6istiansmitted to a shoulder. l8 formed at-the upper end oft-he recess.9: andzis thereby: transmitted directly to :the body! of the tooljoint. With the tool 'joint assembled as illustrated, it willgenerally'b'erdes'ira'ble-toi close the-gap. l9. remaining between theadjacent ends of the sleevezfi and l by Welding as indicated at 20 toform a fiush surface .t'opreven't abrasive fluids fromreaching thethreads ofthe connectlng'member 8; y 1

: This Welding is of a protective character and generally shouldnot-beof sufficient magnitude to prevent its being broken easily in therig when it is desired'to replace the wear surface'formed by thesleeve'sfi and 1. Welding may be effected. by positioning. alwe'ldingrod in thegap l9 and t'hen: performing merely suchiweldingza's isrequired in order to close. the gap. If desired;'an.auxiliary wear"sleeve ztam'aybe mounted on one: of. the sleeve sections 6 or' 1i bypoistioning the same in an 'undercut' groove 22 and welding the sectionsthereof together; This, however, is'an' ep= tional provision of myinvention;

In the modification of my invention as illustr'ated in Figures 5, 6 and'7, similar parts have been designated by similar numerals with theaddition of an exponent a thereto.- In this modification the wear sleeve2a which'is mounted upon'th'e tool joint body la is of' a, one-piececonstruction. As in' the previous modification of my'invention, Iprovide locking means for maintainingthe sleeve 2a upon the body la formaintaining the sleeve Za'against relative longitudinal motion upon thebody laand prefer-to space these A pouring hole or holes 21 are formedin the sleeve 2a over the recess 9a so that a molten material whichsolidifies upon cooling may be poured into the recess 9a to engage theserrations 23 and 24 and thereby aid in maintaining the sleeve 2a fromlongitudinal motion with reference to the body Ia and also may aid inholding the sleeve against rotation upon the body 'lci% In order toeffectively pour such molten material into the recess 911, it ispreferable that two such pouring holes 21 be formed adjacent oneanother.

-.In this modification of my invention I may also employ a fiber orplastic sleeve [6a which is inserted: in an undercut recess formed inthe sleeve and -which isadapted to be threaded over threads 28- formedon the body la adjacent the recess- 9aa Means may be provided inaddition to the means hereinabove described for holding the sleeve fromrotation with reference to the body, which means may be of the characteras illustrated in' Figure 7. i If At radiallydisposed points around thebody la ratchet dogsr29- maybe: inserted in bores formed in the body andbe urged: outwardly by: the 'm'e: dium :of the springs to engageserrations.-I3| formed on the'i'nner surface of the sleevetd. Thedogs 29are inserted into the-bores? through, the pouring openingsflor otheropeningsiformed' in the sleeve; A packingringi 32 may be; posi' tion'ed'on the: end. ofithe-body' 2a to -engage a radialsh'oulder 33 formed on'the sleeve zaxf In the modificationzofmy'invention illustrated inFigure8-, similar part'sihave' beenFindi'cate'd-With" similarnumerals: withthe addition of ant ex ponent b thereto. In this modification of sleeve2b toengage within keyways Ma -formed in the body Ib. With the WoOdruff'keys thus i'n serted in position; they may be tacked in? place by"welding as indicated at 206'. 1

In each of the modifications shown itwill' be apparent that thecomposite tool joint" may bedisassembled for replacement of the wearingsleeves in the rig by simple operation of breaking the weldings 20 or20b; asin the case of th n dia. fications of Figures" 1' to 4' and 8, orbyapplyin'gj heat to the surface of the sleeve to'flmelt the fusiblematerial used'fas a locking mean'sin the modification of Figures? to"7,inclusive: This fusible material in this case may be any fusiblematerial which will be; molten on relatively-glow temperatures and willhardenunder'thetemperatures and use; such assolderorother' low meltingpointall'oys' Orsimilar materials, Upon breaking the seals as thusformed ineachof the cases, the sleeve may be simply removediand replaeedwith anew sleeve without. the necessity of taking the. tool jointfrom-the rig; a, r l V 'I'hereis embodied ill-13119150011 joint wear,sleeve a plurality of grooves 35' which: arev formed: from thein-sideperipheryof the wear rings. Thefunc tion of these-grooves isito'indicate the surface wear of the -sleevestby giving'avisibleindi'cation' when the sleeves haverworn: thin? enough tofre'quire their replacement in order to be'certain'ithe" sleevetdoesnotseparateinxuse. e T Having fully: described my invention it'riis: tobe understood that Idonotwislttoibezlimited to the details herein setforth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a composite tool joint, the combination of a cylindrical body, theouter surface of which is of reduced diameter, a wear sleeve mountedover the surface to bring the tool joint to full diameter, means forreleasably securing the sleeve to the body, said latter means includingthreads formed on one of said members, and a fiber-like material carriedby the other said member in which threads are adapted to be formed onthreading the members together.

2. A composite tool joint forwell pipe including a tool joint body, areplaceable cylindrical wear sleeve surrounding the tool joint body forsubstantially the full length of the body, means positioned between thebody and the sleeve for replaceably holding the sleeve and body fromrelative rotation, and said means being readily disengageable, andcooperating means between the wear sleeve and the body spaced from thelast said means for holding the body and sleeve from relativelongitudinal movement, the cooperating means including a holding ringembedded in the periphery of the body, and a, cooperating means carriedby the sleeve in engagement with the holding ring.

3. A composite tool joint for wells including a body and a replaceablewear sleeve surrounding the body and extending for substantially thefull length of the body, the body and sleeve having complementarytapered seats at one end whereby relative longitudinal movement betweenthe body and the sleeve is limited, and engaging means including a,fibre engaging ring positioned between the sleeve and the body spacedfrom the tapered engaging sections, said fibre engaging ring providingfriction between said sleeves and body to resist relative rotationbetween the sleeve and body.

4. A composite tool joint for well pipe including a body, a replaceablewear sleeve formed in two cylindrical sections, each section of thesleeve having a tapered end section adapted to engage a complementarytapered seat at the end of the body, means for joining the two sectionstogether between the seats whereby relative longitudinal movementbetween the body and sleeve is limited, and engaging means positionedbetween the sleeve and the body and between the ends thereof to resistrotation between the sleeve and the body, said engaging means includingmeans carried by the sleeve and adapted to cooperate with a holding ringembedded within a recess in the body.

5. A composite tool joint for well pipe including a body, a replaceablewear sleeve formed in two sections, each section of the sleeve having atapered end section adapted to engage a complementary tapered seat atthe end of the body, means for joining the two sections together betweenthe seats whereby relative longitudinal movement between the body andsleeve is limited, engaging means positioned between the sleeve and thebody and between the end-s thereof to resist rotation between the sleeveand the body, said lattermeans including a fibre element and fibrecutting threads whereby positioning of the wear sleeve upon the bodyresults in the cutting of threads in the fibre element.

6. In a composite tool joint, the combination of a body, a replaceablewear sleeve surrounding the body and extending substantially the fulllength thereof, the body and the sleeve having complementary taperedseats at one end whereby relative longitudinal movement between the bodyand the sleeve is limited, a rotation lock positioned between the bodyand the sleeve at a point spaced from the tapered seats, said rotationlock including a, fibre ring arried by one of the elements of the tooljoint and the other element being threaded so that in positioning thewear sleeve upon the body rotation resisting threads are cut in thefibre ring.

7. In a composite tool joint, the combination of a body, a replaceablewear sleeve surrounding the body and extending substantially the fulllength thereof, the body and the sleeve having complementary taperedseats at one end whereby relative longitudinal movement between the bodyand the sleeve is limited, a rotation lock positioned between the bodyand the sleeve at a point spaced from the tapered seats, said rotationlock including a fibre ring carried by one of the elements of the tooljoint and the other element being threaded so that in positioning thewear sleeve upon the body rotation resisting threads are out in thefibre ring, and gripping means mounted between the wear sleeve and thebody and including oppositely faced shoulder elements for holding thesleeve from longitudinal movement relative to the body.

JAMES W. E. HANES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,054,812 Zierath Mar. 4, 19131,265,706 Bardeen May 7, 1918 1,455,971 Rickenbacker May 22, 19231,494,693 Loi May 20, 1924 1,613,039 McLaren Jan. 4, 1927 1,756,205Merrick Apr. 29, 1930 1,810,948 Dorn et al June 23, 1931 2,087,185Dillon July 13, 1937 2,247,173 Huntsinger June 24, 1941 2,298,049Gardner Oct. 6, 1942 2,301,495 Abegg Nov. 10, 1942

